Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 1819582

Reference: WO372/9

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

UPP: GBM/MCI/1821745

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9084447

Reference: gbm_wo363-4

Title: British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBM/WO363-4/7273977/199/2454

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9084454

Reference: gbm_wo363-4

Title: British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBM/WO363-4/7273977/199/2435

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9084457

Reference: gbm_wo363-4

Title: British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBM/WO363-4/7273977/199/2448

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9084467

Name: William Edward Heaton VC (1875-1941).

Title: Article by Dot Broady Hawkes in "Southport Visitor" includes information about William E Heaton

Description: Ormskirk’s only Victoria Cross recipient lies in the churchyard in the lower section. William Edward Heaton was born in Railway Path, Bickerstaffe, on January 2, 1875. He grew up in Ormskirk and attended the Boys Parochial School, Aughton Street. He enlisted with the Kings Liverpool Regiment on October 6, 1896. In November 1897, he was posted to South Africa, where he spent five years and 41 days, returning in January 1903. On August 23, 1900, his company was surrounded and suffering severely. He volunteered to take a message back to get reinforcements, at great risk to his life. William married in 1905 and had two daughters, but he was widowed and returned to the Army in 1906 and 1912. Later worked as a commissionaire at Lewis’s department store in Liverpool but he rejoined the Army in 1914, serving briefly in France. He struggled with ill health after serving in France and also to find work. William died in Southport in 1941.

Connected by: Bryan5462

URL: https://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/history/capability-gould-tales-valour-adventure-14008173
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Source information

ID: 9084468

Title: Medal Card for Lance Sergeant William Edward Heaton

Description: France from 24/2/1915; discharged 16/4/1918, Service nos. 1335 (KLR) and 218423 (Labour Corps)

Connected by: Bryan5462

URL: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/1262/30850_A000723-00100/1069584?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dMedalRolls%26gss%3dsfs28_ms_db%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gsfn%3dWilliam%2520Edward%26gsfn_x%3dNIC%26gsln%3dHeaton%26gsln_x%3d1%26_F00061C3%3dLiverpool%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3dbn2&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults
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Source information

ID: 9084474

Reference: 1881gbc

Title: 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBC/1881/0017187483

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 9084475

Reference: 1891gbc

Title: 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBC/1891/0020872229

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 9084476

Reference: bmd_deaths

Title: England & Wales deaths 1837-2007 Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: BMD/D/1941/2/AZ/000468/140

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 9085076

Reference: 1911gbc

Title: 1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: GBC/1911/RG14/22604/0383/1

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9085090

Reference: bmd_marriages

Title: England & Wales marriages 1837-2005 Transcription

Connected by: Bryan5462

UPP: BMD/M/1904/3/AZ/000174/107

Additional: This is the only marriage listed in England for a William Edward Heaton between 1903 (discharge from Army) and 1905 (birth of eldest daughter). Location is highly probable.

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 9085124

Name: Private William Heaton, 1st Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment)

Title: THE LONDON GAZETTE, JANUARY 18, 1901 Page 398

Description: The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Soldier, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for his conspicuous bravery in South Africa, on the 23rd August, 1900, as stated against his name :

Connected by: Bryan5462

URL: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27267/page/398
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Source information

ID: 9085333

Reference: gbm_victoria_cross

Title: Victoria Cross Recipients 1854-2006 Transcription

Connected by: Guy74824

UPP: GBM/VCR/561

Credit: Courtesy of Findmypast

Source information

ID: 9085870

Title: Geluk Farm

Description: One day in late August 1900 at Geluk’s Farm near Belfast in South Africa two companies of the 1st Battalion the King’s Liverpool Regiment were cornered and being attacked by the Afrikaner farmers – the Boers. Many of the company involved were killed, others escaped and one won a Victoria Cross. One of those who died was Liverpudlian Thomas Grisdale.

Connected by: Bryan5462

URL: https://grisdalefamily.wordpress.com/tag/geluk-farm/
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Source information

ID: 9085872

Name: WO 105/10

Title: General Sir Redvers Buller - operations at Van Wyks Vlei Farm, Geluk Farm and... Ordering

Description: Reference: WO 105/10 Description: General Sir Redvers Buller - operations at Van Wyks Vlei Farm, Geluk Farm and Vogelstruispoort Farm (126/188) Date: 1900 Sep.10 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

Connected by: Bryan5462

URL: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6656263
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Source information

ID: 9094032

Title: Corporal W Heaton, VC

Description: Photo and short article published in Local Newspaper

Connected by: Bryan5462

Source information

ID: 9094033

Title: Group of soldiers including William Heaton. VC

Description: Photo taken some time during WW1, probably in Liverpool

Connected by: Bryan5462

Additional: Image provided by Dot Hawkes, local historian, Ormskirk

Source information

ID: 9094042

Title: Wedding of William Heaton and Sarah Ryland

Description: Photocopy of Marriage Certificate

Connected by: Bryan5462

Source information

ID: 9094048

Title: William Heaton, VC

Description: Photo in civilian clothes, wearing medals, taken at some time between WW1 and WW2.

Connected by: Bryan5462

Source information

ID: 9094054

Title: William Heaton, VC, with other veterans

Description: Photo of group of men, including three veterans wearing medals and holding collection boxes. Probably taken at some time between WW1 and WW2.

Connected by: Bryan5462

Additional: Photo provided by Dot Hawkes, local historian, Ormskirk.

Source information

ID: 9094060

Title: Letter from Ormskirk BL to War Office

Description: Letter from the Chairman of Ormskirk British Legion to the War Office, thanking for financial assitance provided to William Heaton in response to a request by the BL.

Connected by: Bryan5462

Source information

ID: 9094066

Title: Funeral of Sergeant W Heaton, VC

Description: Account od Sergeant Heaton's funeral, published in the Ormskirk Advertiser.

Connected by: Bryan5462

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